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China’s Latest Space Mission Lifts Off, Whilst UK Business Remains On The Launch Pad.
Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping made a traditional walk in front of cheering crowds prior to leaving for the Launchpad. This morning (11 June 2013), the mission designated Shenzhou-10 lifted off and started a 40 hour journey to where it will complete the next step in China’s plan to put a permanently manned space station above the Earth by the beginning of the next decade, and does anyone doubt China will achieve what China sets out to do anymore?
Does anything more dramatically demonstrate the ambition of China and its ability to turn ambition into achievement?
China’s space station will be somewhat smaller (initially) than the International Space Station (ISS) but developments are no doubt underway to eventually surpass it. It needs a bigger rocket and the Long March 5, now in development, will be seen in the next few years, greatly increasing China’s lifting capacity.
China's manned spaceflight programme is generally conducted in isolation to the ISS partners. But this could change in the next few years. Europe in particular has opened a dialogue that could eventually result in flight opportunities for its astronauts to China’s space station.
This increasing openness and willingness to cooperate is a developing trend in China. It leads to R&A and business opportunities we in the UK (and the west generally) would do well to encourage. Hi Tech, Innovation, Design and Hi-End Manufacturing etc is what we do and what China needs. However, developing the contacts and relationships that can be turned, over time, into such opportunities is, in itself, something of a ‘mission’. It takes similar amounts of time, patience, skill and resources but the prize is well worth it. Some countries recognised this early, like Germany, whose exports to China dwarf our own. Whilst we persist in selling services to our small neighbours, they have invested their efforts into the China market and are now reaping the rewards.
China is finding new frontiers off the planet. UK business needs to find new frontiers on it, and China is the best option. For help in doing that, contact me.
Philip Bell, Managing Partner, CME Associates. philip@cmea.eu